Method of joining the ends of multilayer printing forms

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a method and means for joining the ends of multi-layer printing forms so as to provide a continuous supply of printing media to high speed printing machines. The end of one strip of multi-layer forms is positioned with the front edge of the next strip in aligned abutting relation. Then a strip of adhesive material is applied across an outer sheet or layer of each strip. Then one or both forms are partially perforated leaving a partially folded over tab which holds the under layer sin aligned relation to the outer sheet.

Dec. 4, 1973 E. H. STEVENSON 3,776,795.

METHOD OF JOINING THE ENDS 0F MULTI-LAYER PRINTING FORMS Filed April 9, 1971 3 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. 2

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v =1 Q N E n Q i! 2 HUN T i. 33$ 4 (D INVENTOR ELBERT H. STEVENSON Dec. 4, 1973 E, H. STEVENSON 3,776,795

METHOD OF JOINING THE ENDS OF MULTI-LAYER PRINTING FORMS Filed April 9, 1971 3 SheetsSheet 3 ELBERT H. STEVENSON United States Patent 3,776,795 METHOD OF JOINING THE ENDS OF MULTI- LAYER PRINTING FORMS Elbert H. Stevenson, Stratford, Conn., assignor of a fract'onal part interest to Frederick H. Rehm, Stamford,

onn.

Continuation-impart of abandoned application Ser. No. 824,776, May 15, 1969. This application Apr. 9, 1971, Ser. No. 132,656

Int. Cl. 1331f /06; B41j 13/00, 5/04 US. Cl. 156- 157 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to a method and means for joining the ends of multi-layer printing forms so as to provide a continuous supply of printing media to high speed printing machines. The end of one strip of multilayer forms is positioned with the front edge of the next strip in aligned abutting relation. Then a strip of adhesive material is applied across an outer sheet or layer of each strip. Then one or both forms are partially perforated leaving a partially folded over tab which holds the under layers in aligned relation to the outer sheet.

This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 824,776 filed May 15, 1969 now abandoned.

This invention relates to the joining of multi-layer sheet material in strip form, and more particularly relates to the joining of multiple layer or copy printing forms to provide a continuous supply of printing media to high speed printing machines.

The invention is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with high speed printing devices where printing forms folded in a so-called fan-fold and having a multiplicity of copies are utilized to supply a printing device, such as may be associated with a computen ln the high speed printing machines utilized to print out information from computers, stacks of folded paper having a multiplicity of copies are rapidly consumed, and a new stack must periodically be supplied to the printing device. When a first stack of printing forms is consumed the readout of the computer must be interrupted and thereafter two or three minutes expended to connect a new pack of printing forms to the feed mechanism of the printer. This causes a serious loss of time in relation to the overall operating time of the printing machine.

Where the rental of such computers is very high and perhaps on the order of about one-hundred dollars per hour, the loss in resupplying the printing media becomes quite substantial.

This invention eliminates such interruptions by providing a technique of positively joining a fresh supply of printing media to media in the printer without discontinuing the printout. A new stack of folded multicopy forms is abutted to and joined to the previous pack, and the several stacks fed to the printing machine continuously without loss of time for resupplying the printing media.

Briefly stated, the invention in one form thereof comprises a method of joining the ends of strips of sheet material such as multi-layer printing forms while one strip is being utilized. The trailing transverse edge of the first strip is abutted to the leading transverse edge of the succeeding strip. In aligning these stacks, the forms may include aligning a pilot pin perforation along the edges thereof for guide indexing purposes, and such pilot pin perforations may be utilized in aligning the aforementioned edges in essentially abutting relationship. Outer layers of each form are then joined as, for example, by

3,776,795 Patented Dec. 4, 1973 use of an adhesive tape extending along the abutting edges thereof. Then, one or more perforations is made in at least one of the strips intermediate the edges thereof to provide a depending tab which comprises a portion of each layer displaced from its normal plane. Such tab effectively locks the layers or copies of each strip in longitudinal and lateral alignment and prevents any slipping thereof while only the outer layers on one or both strips are joined to each other.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved method and apparatus for joining the trailing and leading edges of first and second multi-layer strips of sheet material.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved method for providing multi-layer printing forms of continuous and indefinite length to high speed printing apparatus.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for aligning, abutting and joining the trailing and leading edges of multi-layer strips of printing forms.

The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and definitely claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, the invention both as to its organization, operation and order of procedure, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be appreciated by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the series of packs of multi-layer printing forms having the abutting edges of successive packs joined together for feeding the strips successively to a printing machine Without interrupting the operation of the printing machine;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of two of the pack of stacks of printing forms of FIG. I joined together;

FIG. 3 is a view seen in the plane of lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view of a mechanism embodying the invention in a position to join two stacks of strips;

FIG. 5 is an elevation of the device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a section of the forms which have been joined;

FIG. 7 is a view seen in the plane of lines 77 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a view seen in the plane of lines 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view of the upper platen of the device of FIG. 2 seen in the plane of lines 9'9 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a view of the body platen of the apparatus of FIG. 2 seen in the plane of lines 10-10 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view seen in the plane of lines 1111 of FIG. 6.

There is shown at 10 a diagrammatic representation of any type of high speed printing machine, usually associated with a computer for printing out the data from the computer. A stack 12 of folded multicopy superimposed strips of printing forms 14 is shown feeding through the printing machine 10. At 16 is shown a successive pack where the end fold 20 of stack 12 from the bottom thereof has been joined at 18 to the beginning fold 22 of stack 16 from the top thereof.

It is the method and means of providing this joint 18, as well as the indefinite length strip of printing forms resulting from the method and means, that constitutes the essence of this invention.

The forms 14, both as to format and number of copies or layers, vary according to the particular type of printing machine, and also according to the particular use for which they are intended. However, the forms 14 are folded at 24 in packs 12, 16 of convenient size, and generally have a row of aligning or pilot pin perforations 26 extending along the opposite longitudinal edges, whereby the print machine controls the passage of the forms through the machine 10. While the packs may contain only one or two layers of forms, they usually consist of several superimposed strips, 141, 142, 143, as shown in cross-section in FIG. 3, and usually have interleaved carbon paper strips 144, 145, between the strips of printing forms 14. The joint 18 of this invention is provided by abutting the transverse trailing edge 28 of the end form 20 folded out from the bottom of stack 12 with the transverse leading edge 30 of the beginning form 22 from the top of successive stack 16. While thus abutted on any convenient surface, a tape 32 having an adhesive coating thereon is adhered to surfaces of an outer layer or copy bridging the leading and trailing edges 28 and 30. This tape 32 may have a preformed midline of folding and tear perforations 34, similar to the conventional folding and tear perforations already present at 24 in the strips of forms 14. Also, at the transverse ends of the tape 32 there may be provided a line of at least two aligning pin apertures 36 coinciding in spacing and location with the aligning pin apertures 26 in the strip of forms 14. Obviously, the tape 32 may be of a width to have four, six or more aligning pin apertures 36 as desired. When abutting the edges 28, 30 of forms 20 and 22 together, a suitable template (not shown) with aligning pins, similar to that on the printing machine 10, is used to hold the abutted edges 28 and 30 together and to insure that the tape 32 has its aligning pin perforations 36 coincide with aligning pin perforations 26 of the forms 20 and 22. Such template may be part of a suitable apparatus hereinafter described which may be used for making partial holes or perforations 38 and 40 adjacent the leading and trailing edges 28 and 30. The punch making the incomplete holes or perforations 38 and 40 forms tabs 42 and 44 which depend through the superimposed strips of forms adjacent to but spaced from the abutting edges 28 and 30. The depending tabs 42 lock the superimposed strips (141, 142, 143) of forms 20 and interleaved carbon paper strips 144, 145 to the tape 32, and the depending tabs 44 likewise lock the superimposed forms 22 and interleaved carbon paper strips 144, 145 to the tape 32, thus locking the superimposed strips 141-145 of forms 20 and 22 together against their abutted edges 28 and 30 and thus provide a secure joint 18. If desired, a second similar tape 32 is adhered to the bottom surface of the bottommost strips 143 and forms 20 and 22, before the top tape 32 is adhered, so that the punch pushes the tabs 42 and 44 down the bottom tape 32 at the same time. The tape or tapes 32 are adhered in any convenient manner, self-adhering adhesive being one convenient type. The surface on which the joint 18 is made may be an endless belt 46 movable over a flat surface, to the printing machine 10. A motor (not shown) slowly moves the stack 12 up to a wall of printing machine 10, where the stack 12 touches a micro switch button 50, deactivating the belt motor until stack 12 is consumed, whereupon the belt 46 is reactivated to move the stack 16 into contact with the wall 48 and switch 50 again stopping the belt motor and providing time for making a joint 18 with a successive pack of printing forms. Obviously, the belt 46 may be made as slow as desired, so that several joints 18 may be made in quick succession. In such case, the last or next to last stack 16 may be in the path of an electric eye delayed operation alarm, so that when the electric eye path is left uninterrupted for longer than it takes for the successive pack to move into the electric eye path, the alarm will alert an attendant to join up a new series of successive stacks 16.

An apparatus 50 for practicing the invention is shown in one form thereof in FIGS. 4-11. The apparatus 50 generally comprises a base member 51 which may be supported on legs 52 and has spaced apart arms defining brackets 53 and 54 extending from one end thereof. The

a v 114 2 r i brackets 53 and 54 mount reels or spools 55 and 56 of tapes 57 and 58 having an adhesive or pressure-sensitive adhesive thereon. Bracket 53 is pivotally mounted to bracket 54 by a pin 59 in order that an upper assembly, generally indicated at 60 in FIG. 5, may be pivoted upwardly with respect to base 51. A support link 61 is pivotally mounted at one end thereof to bracket 54'at 62. Defined in link 61 adjacent the other end thereof is a slot 63 including a holding notch 64 therein. Slot 63 receives therein a pin 65 carried on one arm of bracket 53. With this arranmgement when the upper assembly 60 is raised, the notch 64 will receive pin 65 therein andlhold member 60 in the position shown in FIG. 5.

Base member 51 defines a table 70, FIG. 10', having a plurality of rows of pilot holes 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 and 77, adapted to receive pins therethrough as hereinafter described, to locate the guide perforations in the edges of the strips of forms passing therethrough.

Also defined in table 70 is a plurality of apertures 78 spaced transversely across the table, with respect to the leading and trailing edges of the strips and adapted to receive punches therethrough as hereinafter described.

Extending along the length of upper assembly 60 is a member 80 which is carried between sidewalls 81'and 82. Member 80 has a longitudinally extending slot 83 thereacross which acts as a guide and a clamp for a plurality of members '84. Each of the members 84 carries a punch 85, FIG. 8, arranged to extend through apertures 86 in an upper table or platen 87 and into apertures 78 in table 70. Also carried by each of members 84 is a pressing member 88, FIG. 8, which is acted upon by a spring 89 through a plunger 90 to move pressing member -88 downwardl into engagement with table 70. Punch has a washer or other member defining a head 92 thereon and a return spring 93 thereabout.

Plunger also has a washer or other means defininga head 94 thereon and a return spring 95 is disposed between head 94 and member 84.

An actuating member 96 is pivotally mounted between sidewalls 81 and 82 about pins or a rod 97 extending between sidewalls 81 and 82. A lifting handle 97a is ,positioned on an extension of rod 97. When actuating member 96 is moved downwardly as shown by the arrow, A, it will engage the punches 85 and plungers 90 and depress them moving member 88 into contact with table 70 and anything thereon while punch 85 will extend through apertures 86 in assembly 60, and apertures 78 in table 70 to perforate material thereon. The members .84 are movable along member 80 and may be aligned with any of the apertures 78 and 86. This may be accomplished by loosening bolts or screws 98 which are threadably received in each of members 84 and sliding the numbers 84 to any given position with respect to member 80. Thereafter, screws 98 may be tightened against member 80 to clamp the members 84 in the given position to member 82. A slot 99, FIG. 9, is defined across table 87 through which extend the pressing members 88 when theyarc depressed into engagement with table 70.

Disposed below table 50 are pilot pin carriers 100 which may be movable across table 50 on guides.'101. The guides 101 are aflixed at either end thereof to a member 102 which are carried on an elevator structure generally indicated by the reference numeral 103 disposed within base 51. When actuated, the elevator structure 103 will raise carriers 100 with a plurality of pins 104 and 105 thereon through the pilot perforations 7177 at either end of the forms. This is accomplished through a. scissors-like mech-.- anism comprising links 106 and 107'which raise carrier member 108 with respect to a stationary base member 109. Links 107 are extended to provide handle portions 110, one of which carries a pivotal latch 111 whichem gages an aperture 112 in base member 51 to .latchthe elevator structure 103 in the position shown in 'FIG'; 7.- Links 107 are pivoted to carrier member 108 at 113 .and have extending pins 114 in the other ends thereof which may move in slots 115- in base member 109. Links 106 are pivoted to base member 109 at 116 and carry pins 117 at the other end thereof received in slots 118 of carrier member 108. The links 106 and 107 are also pivoted to each other.

In the construction disclosed, when latch 111 is disconnected from base member 51 the elevator structure 103 will fall and pins 104 and 105 will move downwardly with respect to table 70. At this time, the carriers 100 may be positioned transversely of the table 70 on guide rods 101 to extend through any of the sets of pilot holes 71-77. Thereafter, handles 110 may be raised to reposition carrier members 100 and the pins 104 and 105.

Blocks 84a and 84b guidably mounted to member 80, besides containing punch 85 and pressing block 88 may also have mounted therein cutting tools 119, together with a return spring 120 acting on head 121 of tool 118 to sever a length of tape as hereinafter made apparent.

Considering the operation of the device, the trailing edge of one stack of forms is received on table 70 after the upper assembly has been pivoted to a position as shown in FIG. 5 through handle 97a on rod 97. The last two aligning perforations on the side thereof are received on pins 104. The leading edge of the next stack of forms is similarly positioned so that the edges are in essentially abutting relationship and pilot pins 105 extend through the edge perforations. At this time, the assembly 60 is in the position shown in FIG. 5. A length 122 of the tape 57 is drawn from reel 55 first over a roller 123 on bracket 53 to a guide 124 extending from sidewall 82. Prior to this, a length 125 of tape 58 is drawn over a roller 126 on bracket 54 to a guide 127 extending from base 51 such that a length of tape is on base 70 prior to positioning of the strips 130 and 131 as shown in FIG. 6. The strips are thus positioned so as to overlie opposite side edges of tape length 125. Then, the upper assembly is pivoted downwardly to the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, and actuating member 96 is depressed. Pressing members 88 will press the adhesive strips into engagement with the upper and lower outer sheets of the multilayer forms 130 and 131 as shown in FIG. 11. Simultaneously, punches 85 which have the cutting edges 132 residing in an angled plane with respect to a perpendicular section thereof will provide a plurality of perforations 133 through the multiplicity of layers and leave an integral depending tab 134 through the trailing form 131. The layers in the tab 134 reside outside of the normal plane of their layers. This tab 134 locks and secures all of the layers together in longitudinal and lateral alignment so that When a pulling force is exerted thereon through the tapes 122 and/or 125 such force is transmitted to the intermediate layers through tab 134 and there will be no tendency for the inner layers and carbons, if present, to slip with respect to the outer. To aid in proper positioning of the upper tape length 122 and the perforation positions, pins 136 may be provided on upper assembly 60 to register with holes 137 in table 70.

It will be apparent that the perforations 133 may be formed either within the boundaries of the tapes 122 and 125 or outside thereof, and may be formed in both forms 130 and 131 of the printing forms or, alternatively, in only one strip, in which case it is preferably the trailing strip 131. Moreover, the perforations may be formed from either side of the strip. For example, the punches could be carried by either an upper or a lower member.

The alignment means, namely, the pins 104- and 105 may be adjusted for any width printing form or, alternatively, vertically guiding sidewalls might be utilized to guide the edges of the paper. After the junction between the two strips of printing forms is made, the mechanism may be left in the position shown in FIG. 5 with the pilot pins 104 in a lowered position and the newly attached form 131, FIGS. 6 and 11, pulled across table 70 by the feed mechanism of the printer.

It is to be understood that it may only be necessary to utilize one of the tapes 122 or 125, and either or both may be utilized depending upon the number of layers or copy sheets in the strip.

It is further to be understood that the apparatus disclosed is only illustrative of a mechanism for practicing the steps embodying the invention, and is illustrated as a totally manually operated device. Moreover, the invention may be utilized to join various types of multilayer material in sheet or strip form and is not limited to printing forms.

In practice, it will be understood that a device having the functions illustrated could be automated or mechanized, and thus reduce the manual steps necessary to practice the invention.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the invention set forth above, as well as those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained. Since changes may be made in the constructions set forth Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of joining the leading edge of a first strip of plural-layer sheet material to the trailing edge of a second strip of plural-layer sheet material comprising the steps of aligning the leading and trailing edges in essentially abutting relationship, applying a tape to an outer layer of said strips along the leading and trailing ends thereof to join the edges of said outer layers, and perforating all of the layers of at least the first of said strips adjacent said leading edges and between the sides thereof to leave integral tabs comprising a portion of each layer of one of said strips disposed outside of the normal plane of each layer.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of applying the tape to the outer layers on both sides of said strips.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of said perforations are made in said first strip transverse to the length thereof to provide a plurality of tabs.

' 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one perforation is made at least partially within the bounds of said tape.

5. A method of joining a strip of multi-layer printing media to the leading edge of a second strip of printing media wherein the first strip has a trailing edge and the second strip has a leading edge comprising the steps of aligning the leading and trailing edges in essentially abutting relationship, applying a joining strip across said edges to an outer layer of both of said strips along the leading and trailing ends thereof, and making a plurality of aligned perforations in said second strip adjacent the leading edge thereof and between the sides thereof to leave a plurality of integral tabs each comprising a portion of each layer disposed outside of the normal plane of each layer.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said second strip is perforated beyond the edge of said joining strip.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said perforations are formed in both of said strips, and a plurality of perforations are formed in both strips. 1

8. The method of claim 5 wherein said strips have aligning holes extending along the edges thereof, and said aligning holes are utilized to initially align the leading and trailing edges in essentially abutting relationship.

9. The method of claim 5 comprising the further step of providing said joining strip with a line of tear perforations along the length thereof adapted to coincide with the line between said leading and trailing edges.

10. The method of claim 5 comprising the further step of providing a tape having an adhesive coating to provide said joining strip.

(References on following page) 7 8 References Cited 2,259,358 10/1941 Templeton 282-20 R UNITED 3,669,814 Faltin 161110 X 3/ 1959 PP et a1 156505 PHILIP DIER, Primary Examiner 9/1936 Sherman 197-126 5/1935 Townley 156-502 X 5 11/1966 Goreham 197126 156505, 513; 161-410; 197-426; 280-20 

